International Policy & Communications Lead, India (Director)

ROLE DESCRIPTION

• Develop and manage strategic policy initiatives to support Pfizer's business in India.
• Develop and implement innovative policy strategic platforms to support Pfizer’s business, including but not limited to creation of broader industry coalitions and platforms to advance Pfizer’s objectives.
• Serve as thought partner to the Head of IPC EM and the India Country President in anticipating and assessing the impact of the external policy environment on business strategy.
• Develops and leads Policy, Communications and Patient Advocacy strategies across India to support key Pfizer and business unit priorities, including access, pricing, intellectual property, localization, life-course immunization, and stakeholder engagement.
• Executive support for the Country President and local country-level external communications programs, with the support of the local IPC team, that drive business objectives and strengthen Pfizer’s reputation in India.

ROLE RESPONSIBILTIES

Strategic planning and implementation

• Proactively assesses trends, policies and identifies key opportunities and threats.
• Prepares informational materials for management, highlighting opportunities and potential threats and works in partnership with the Head of IPC EM to develop responsive strategies where such developments could impact business operations.
• Utilizes Pfizer corporate policy positions to develop targeted political strategies and action plans.
• Develops and implements a macro-level strategic policy plan that effectively shapes the environment to create a favorable operating environment for Pfizer.
• Leverages insights and knowledge to create a vision for the future and position Pfizer as a preferred partner. 
• Prioritizes and drives both long-term and short-term opportunities.
• Works in partnership with the Head of IPC EM, Country President and local functional teams to develop innovative policy strategies that proactively shape the environment for launch of new assets. 
• Adapt and implement TA-level policy strategies and tactics to support access to Pfizer products address the patient affordability challenge. 

External Relations

• Participates in advocacy functions at trade and business associations at a local level, as required.
• Establishes, maintains and consistently leverages relationships with policy makers, think tanks, patient advocacy groups and other organizations to advance Pfizer’s strategic priorities and ensure Pfizer’s position is reflected in advocacy materials.
• Supports the development of briefing materials for external engagements.
• Appropriately and effectively tailors Pfizer International policy positions to local market dynamics.
• Maintains strict compliance with all applicable policies and laws, especially those related to interactions with government officials.

Patient Advocacy

• Develop and lead the implementation of country strategic, pro-active agenda with internal and external stakeholders
• Provide leadership and direction for all cross functional engagement with targeted key stakeholders, including current and future patients, and serve as a key relationship manager, leading and/or guiding relationships with patient and professional advocacy organizations as appropriate.
• Communicates on key topics such as IP, health reform, access to medicines, pricing, trade agreements, etc. through the development of briefing notes, position papers, talking points, as well as relevant correspondence, proposals and presentations.
• Provide strategic counsel and tactical communications support to the Country President, as well as country marketing teams and other functions in order to develop external communications country plans aligned with the business vision, mission and key priorities.
• Work collaboratively across functions in the business to manage proactive and reactive external communications.
• Partner with commercial teams in India, ensuring alignment with global messaging and priorities and that local teams have the external communications support needed to execute local business strategies.
• Provide strategic communications counsel and messaging support for country leadership with internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment and consistency with Pfizer corporate narratives and international policy messaging.

Leadership

• Serves as key thought partner to the Country President and Commercial Leads in assessing the impact of the external policy environment on business strategy. Provide strategic counsel in business planning decisions including but not limited to operating plan discussions and business reviews.
• Coordinates and prepares the LT for external engagements. 
• Ensures that the local management team understand the impact of Policy & Comms activities and role in supporting the BU commercial goals.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

• Internal: H&V, Legal, Commercial, Medical, Regulatory, IPC regional and global team.
• External: Academics, trade associations, policy makers, government officials, patient advocacy groups, consultants, media and key influencers.

QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in public policy, strategy or consulting related to policy, government relations, and/or corporate affairs.
• Bachelor degree required. Advanced Degree in health/public policy, international affairs, political science, and/or law preferred
• Deep knowledge of healthcare policy and pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement issues. Excellent knowledge of the local healthcare system and its major players and decision-makers.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute effective, innovative and practical policy/public affairs and policy solutions and comprehensive plans that deliver results.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and deploy appropriate "public affairs and policy" tools (advocacy, lobbying, stakeholder engagement plans).
• Strong understanding of business strategy and key drivers of commercial success
• Highly skilled at anticipating, identifying, and addressing emerging issues and related risks that could impact Pfizer's business
• Strong ability to develop relationships with key stakeholders. Skilled at advocacy influence within internal/external matrix organizations. Skilled at navigating complex environments through range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong executive presence and interpersonal acumen, highly substantive and collaborative. Demonstrated ability to succinctly convey relevant information at the right time and with the proper context and seek input as needed.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills.
• Excellent command of English language. Fluency in English required; fluency in Hindi or another relevant Indian language preferred.

RESOURCES MANAGED

• Financial Accountability – Responsible for managing local Policy & Communications budgets.
• Supervision – Local team (2 colleagues), local agency resources in India, as applicable.

Pfizer is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable equal employment opportunity legislation in each jurisdiction in which it operates.

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